Importation of Chinese as indentured servants was allowed under the Chinese Passenger Act of 1855. Twenty-seven proprietors put up £2 per head plus £20 upon importation. Thomas Gerard went to collect laborers in China. The largest hopeful importer was Coven Bros. and Co., merchants, asking for 400 Chinese of the total of 2,690., Original digital object name: bei-m589, This digital resource is provided by the Special Collections department, Hamilton College, Clinton, New York, United States.